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BY KAYLIE MORGAN Special to The Pilot May 3, 2024
With selections spanning 300 years of music — featuring the works of Mozart, Haydn, Dvorák, John Williams and more — the Moore Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) presents “Back to the Eighties: The 1780s, 1880s and 1980s,” on Saturday, May 18, at 7 p.m., at Pinecrest High School’s R. E. Lee Auditorium. Admission is by donation. Proceeds from admission and merchandise purchases go toward funding MPO’s scholarship programs, music and operating expenses. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Doors open at 6 p.m.
The ‘80s were a particularly fruitful era of music. Interestingly, this phrase has rung true for the past three centuries. For the modern listener, the 1980s are the first decade of great music that comes to mind. It was the prime of popular music, some attest, and a decade that simply can’t be replicated or matched. In addition to the radio, the stage and silver screen had their fair share of hits from the likes of Andrew Lloyd Webber and John Williams. Those who were lucky enough to hear such scores in the theater for the first time recall those moments with fondness.
Undoubtedly, the 1980s were an era of truly iconic music. But perhaps you prefer a romantic touch instead. If so, the 1880s are more your speed, with emotive melodies that soar the heart and stir the soul. You’d be in good company, considering the composers who wrote some of their finest works in this decade. Dvorák found inspiration in nature, while Saint-Saëns turned to the people (and animals) around him. It’s hard not to get caught up in the thrills and chills of this era’s music. The emotion captured by these composers is just as intense to the modern listener as it was to premiere audiences over 140 years ago. This music is a different sort of romance than the type you sway along to with a lighter (or cellphone) aloft, but it moves the listener all the same.
If you find the former eras too mushy or lacking structure, your tastes may be a touch more classical. The perfect balance of form and expression emerged in the 1780s, as a new generation of young composers crafted innovative new soundscapes atop the sonic architecture of Baroque forms. Mozart brought buoyant melodies to the stage with his operas, and Haydn composed hit after hit with his prolific symphonies. Contrary to popular opinion, the 1780s weren’t all primness and petticoats — a vibrant liveliness shines through in every note of the classical-era masterworks. The structure of these pieces serves to amplify this brilliance, not restrain it. This era was anything but stuffy.
How could anyone choose just one ‘80s era to love? Thankfully, the modern listener doesn’t have to play favorites. With the tap of a screen, the magic of streaming music grants us access to virtually every song known to man. There’s much to be said about the quality of modern recordings and the preservation of vintage recordings in digital formats. We can travel back in time on a sound wave and listen to great performances from days gone by. But be honest, wouldn’t you rather hear your music live? Audiences from all the aforementioned eras would agree that nothing beats a live show. It’s time to put away those Airpods and step out for a night celebrating three centuries of great music. Dust off the shoulder pads, lace up your bodices, and come out to see the Moore Philharmonic Orchestra this May as their 19th season comes to a close.
Whether you’re thoroughly modern, a hopeless romantic or a true classic, you’re sure to love what we have in store. MPO’s spring concert will be held at Pinecrest High School’s R. E. Lee Auditorium, at 7 p.m., on Saturday, May 18. Admission is a donation of choice. The Moore Philharmonic Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit mporchestra.com.
Kaylie Morgan is an orchestra teacher and flutist with the Moore Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed with the orchestra since 2015, and currently serves as their historian and essayist. When she isn’t making music or writing about it, she enjoys spending time at home with her fiancé and their cats.
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